USPS In The Spotlight Again

A key lawmaker says the Postal Service is setting a "dangerous precendent" by cutting its employer contribution to the Federal Employees Retirement System. California Representative Darrell Issa, Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform committee, wrote a letter to the Office of Personnel Management. In it he says the move by USPS sets a bad precedent for other cash-strapped agencies, that could follow suit. Issa also questions the legal authority of the Postal Service to halt its retirement contributions. USPS says the move would save 800 million dollars this fiscal year. But, that's less than 10 percent of their projected deficit of 8.3 billion dollars, wrote Issa. Last month, Issa introduced a bill that would change the agency's internal structure and cut mail delivery from six to five days a week.